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The major features of dense deposit disease (DDD) result from kidney malfunction. They usually include increased protein in the urine (proteinuria); the presence of blood in the urine (hematuria); reduced amounts of urine; low levels of protein in the blood; and swelling in many areas of the body. The kidney problems associated with DDD tend to worsen over time, and about half of affected people develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) within 10 years after symptoms start.[1]

Some people with DDD develop a buildup of yellowish deposits called drusen in the retina of the eye. These deposits usually appear in childhood or adolescence and can cause vision problems later in life.[1] The long-term risk of vision problems in people with DDD is about 10% (1 in 10).[2]

DDD can sometimes be associated with other conditions that are not related to kidney function. For example, it can occur with acquired partial lipodystrophy (APL), a condition characterized by a lack of fatty tissue under the skin of the upper body.[1] In people with APL, the loss of fat in the upper body usually occurs several years before kidney disease starts.[2]

Last updated: 12/12/2014

Have nausea and vomiting been associated with dense deposit disease?

A review of available literature does not yield reports of individuals with dense deposit disease experiencing nausea and/or vomiting as symptoms of the condition. However, nausea has been reported as an adverse reaction to some therapies being investigated or used to treat the condition.[3]